Charles H. Miller III, M.D., of La Crosse passed away on Sunday, May 15, 2011, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center. He suffered fatal injuries from a fall while playing one of his favorite sports, racquetball.
Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday, May 20, at Christ Episcopal Church with internment at Christ Episcopal Church Columbarium.
Charles was born Dec. 23, 1931 at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, the son of Charles H. Miller Jr. and D. Irene Miller. He grew up in Illinois and Milwaukee. He graduated at age 16 from Milwaukee Washington High School in 1948. He was appointed in 1950 to the U.S. Naval Academy and graduated with the Class of 1954. For two years he served at the Pentagon and then he served two years with the American Naval Intelligence Service in Japan.
Singing was always important to Charles. Starting in Milwaukee’s St. Paul’s Episcopal Church boychoir he held many leading roles in Gilbert and Sullivan Operettas. His singing continued at the Naval Academy, Washington National Cathedral and the community choir at Yakuska Naval Station. Later, he sang at St Mark’s Cathedral in Minneapolis and continued in La Crosse at Christ Church Choir and University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Choral Union. A highlight was conducting the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra.
After serving in the Navy in Japan, he attended University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical School and was the senior class president. He did his internship at Madison General Hospital. Charles then took a year to cover a private practice in Markesan, Wis., where he met and married Susan Jane Cupery. He then completed a residency in General and Vascular Surgery at Hennepin County General Hospital in Minneapolis. They moved to La Crosse in 1971 with three children. He joined the Surgery Department at Gundersen Clinic- Lutheran Hospital where he had a rewarding career from 1971-1997 and enjoyed teaching the residents.
A strong believer in the value of a good education, Charles was elected to serve 15 years on the La Crosse School Board, including several years as president. He served many years on the Cooperative Education School Association and the Wisconsin Association of School Boards. He received the Physician Citizen of the Year Award 1990 from the Wisconsin State Medical Society. Charles was on the Board of Directors and president of the La Crosse Public Education Foundation 1992-2006. He was recognized with the University of Wisconsin Medical School Alumni Ralph Hawley Award for Distinguished Service in 2004. Having been brought up in the Episcopal Church, he served in many capacities throughout the years. Recently he enjoyed many activities, including book groups, travel, keeping up with his grandchildren, sports and nature.
Charles was preceded in death by his mother, D. Irene T. Miller, RN, in 2000; and a special brother-in-law, Dick Haughton.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Susan, and his children, Charles H. Miller IV (Christine) of San Diego, grandsons, Matthew and Nicholas; a daughter, Jeanette Dell Irene (Fred Everson) of Madison and Ethiopia and their children, Jarena, Esther and Daniel; and another daughter, Heather Marie (Tim Egan) and son, Eamon, of Bryn Mawr, Penn. He is also survived by one sister, Jacquie Haughton of Lakewood, Colo.; one stepbrother, Karl Miller of Salt Lake City, Utah; and many loving nieces and nephews.
He made friends easily and treasured them for life. He will be remembered for his hard work, warm sense of humor and kindness.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to one of the following: La Crosse Public Education Foundation, P.O. Box 1811, La Crosse, WI 4602-1811; Gundersen-Lutheran Medical Foundation, 1836 South Ave., La Crosse, WI 54601; or Christ Episcopal Church, 111 Ninth St. N., La Crosse, WI 54601.
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